Unfilled open side-gusset bag

Abstract

A bag has two face panels having upper and lower transversely extending end edges and longitudinally extending side edges between outer ends of the end edges, two side gussets each between a respective one of the side edges of one of the face panel and the respective side edge of the other face panel, and a base panel having a peripheral edge connected to the lower edges of the face panels and gussets. The panels and gussets form beveled or rounded corners at upper ends of the side edges. Respective corner welds at the corners each extend inward from the respective side edges while leaving the face panels unconnected and forming a filling opening between the corner welds.

We claim: 
     
       1. A bag comprising:
 two face panels having upper and lower transversely extending end edges and longitudinally extending side edges between outer ends of the end edges; 
 two side gussets each between a respective one of the side edges of one of the face panels and the respective side edge of the other face panel, the panels and gussets forming beveled or rounded corners at upper ends of the side edges; 
 a base panel having a peripheral edge connected to lower edges of the face panels and gussets; and 
 respective corner welds at the corners and each extending inward from the respective side edges over 50% to 90% of the width of the side gussets folded in half on themselves, the corner welds and each having a first leg extending along an edge of the respective corner and a second leg therebelow projecting transversely inward from the respective side edge while leaving the face panels unconnected and forming a filling opening between the corner welds. 
 
     
     
       2. The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the side gussets extend to the open upper edges of the face panels and are connected there by the corner welds to the face panels. 
     
     
       3. The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein corner welds each have a first leg extending along an edge of the respective corner and a second leg therebelow projecting transversely inward from the respective side edge. 
     
     
       4. The bag according to  claim 3 , wherein the face panels are formed at the upper end with a carry handle cutout. 
     
     
       5. The bag according to  claim 4 , wherein the carry handle cutout is generally longitudinally below inner ends of the first legs and above inner ends of the second legs. 
     
     
       6. The bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reclosable strip fastener extending transversely in one of the face panels. 
 
     
     
       7. The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the reclosable strip fastener is below the corner welds. 
     
     
       8. The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein, in a flattened condition of the bag, the corner welds do not extend transversely inward from the respective side edges past the respective gussets. 
     
     
       9. The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the corner welds secure together front panels to the gusset and fix the gussets in a folded-together condition, whereby each corner weld fixes together four layers or a film from which the bag is made. 
     
     
       10. The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein in a flattened condition of the bag the side gussets extend inward from the respective side edges by between 15% and 30% of a transverse width of the bag between the side edges thereof. 
     
     
       11. The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the corners each have an S-shaped outer edge. 
     
     
       12. The bag according to  claim 1  wherein the corner welds each extend longitudinally and transversely of the bag over 3 cm to 8 cm. 
     
     
       13. A bag comprising in a flattened condition:
 two face panels having upper and lower transversely extending end edges and longitudinally extending side edges between outer ends of the end edges and lying flatly against each other in at least a central region; 
 two side gussets each folded and lying between a respective one of the side edges of one of the face panel and the respective side edge of the other face panel, the panels and gussets forming beveled or rounded corners at upper ends of the side edges; 
 a base panel folded inward between the face panels and having a peripheral edge connected to the lower edges of the face panels and gussets; and 
 respective corner welds at the corners and each extending inward from the respective edges over 50% to 90% of the width of the side gussets folded in half on themselves, the corner welds and each having a first leg extending along an edge of the respective corner and a second leg therebelow projecting transversely inward from the respective side edge while leaving the face panels unconnected and forming a filling opening between the corner welds, the corner welds fixing together the face panels and portions of the side gussets therebetween such that the side gussets cannot unfold at the corner welds. 
 
     
     
       14. The bag according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the welds secures the respective front panel to a respective half of the respective gusset. 
     
     
       15. The bag according to  claim 13  wherein one of the legs of each corner weld extends along the respective beveled or rounded corner and the other of the legs extending straight and perpendicular from the respective side edge.